Major Archaeological Sites in the Capital Governorate
Archaeological Site: Jabal Al-Qal‘a (Amman Citadel)
Historical Periods: Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Site Coordinates: Long: 35.93486821 Lat: 31.95401697 Jabal Al-Qal‘a (the Amman Citadel) is one of the most prominent and most visited archaeological sites in the Capital Governorate. It is located in the heart of the capital and overlooks downtown Amman. Archaeological excavations have revealed continuous settlement at the site from the Bronze Age through the late Islamic periods, followed by later heritage phases. The site emerged as a center of governance and administration during the Iron Age, when the Ammonites made it their capital and named it Rabbath Ammon. An Ammonite palace and temple were built there.
During the Hellenistic period, the Ptolemaic ruler Ptolemy II Philadelphus rebuilt Rabbath Ammon and renamed it Philadelphia. In the Roman period, Philadelphia flourished, expanded, and became one of the cities of the Decapolis League. Several Roman temples were constructed there, including the Temple of Hercules.
With the spread of Christianity during the Byzantine period, three churches were built on the citadel. During the Umayyad period, Jabal Al-Qal‘a received special attention, as it served as the seat of government for the Umayyad governor. The Umayyad city of Amman was built on the site during that time. Today, Jabal Al-Qal‘a is considered an open-air museum for visitors. It also houses the first national archaeological museum, which contains important collections of artifacts.
Major landmarks at the site include: Temple of Hercules, Byzantine Church, Umayyad Palace, Umayyad Mosque, Market (Souq), Cistern, Ayyubid Tower.
Archaeological Site: The Roman Theatre (The Grand Theatre) (Amman / Forum-Theatre)
Historical Periods: Roman Period, Site Coordinates: Long: 35.93939340 Lat: 31.95165805 The Roman Theatre is located south of the Roman Street and east of the Amman Stream. It was used for theatrical and musical performances and could accommodate approximately 6,000 spectators. One of the most distinctive features of the Roman Theatre is the presence of a niche at the top of the third level, which was dedicated to the city’s deities (Hercules and his mother).
The Roman Theatre in Philadelphia (the ancient name of the city of Amman) was built in the 2nd century AD during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius, based on an inscription that was discovered and is believed to have belonged to the façade of the dressing rooms (Frons Scaenae).
The theatre consists of the audience seating area (cavea), a semicircular orchestra, the stage platform (pulpitum), the main audience entrance (aditus maximus), and the dressing rooms (scaenae). The seating area was divided into three levels:
• The first level, the lower section (ima cavea), was reserved for senators and included several honorary seats (bisellia).
• The second level, the middle section of the auditorium (media cavea), was designated for citizens.
• The third level, the upper section of the auditorium (summa cavea), was reserved for the poor, foreigners, slaves, and women.
Restoration work on the theatre began in 1957 by the Department of Antiquities, after which it once again became a venue for entertainment and various events. The Department also established the Museum of Popular Life in the western basement and the Folklore Museum of Jewelry and Costumes in the eastern basement.
Archaeological Site: The Small Theatre (The Odeon)
Historical Periods: Roman Period, Site Coordinates: Long: 35.93995589,Lat: 31.95238438 The Odeon was built in Philadelphia (the ancient name of the city of Amman) in the 2nd century AD, specifically in 130 AD, and was completed around 141 AD during the construction of the Great Roman Theatre. It is a semi-circular building connected to an external wall constructed in the form of a semi–barrel vault. There were two towers, one at the southern corner and one at the northern corner of the Odeon. It could accommodate 400 spectators.
The Odeon consists of the audience seating area (cavea), a semicircular orchestra, the stage platform (pulpitum), and the dressing rooms (scaenae). It has five main entrances, two lateral entrances (parodoi), and one entrance at the rear.
The Odeon was built in all its parts above ground level of dressed limestone. The audience seating area consists of two levels:
• The lower section (ima cavea), which consists of nine rows divided into four sections by five stairways.
• The upper section (summa cavea), which consists of seven rows divided into five sections by six stairways.
The audience seating was divided by a single walkway (praecinctio), which contains three vaulted passages (vomitoria), one of which is in the center.
The Department of Antiquities restored the Odeon in 1986. It once again became a venue for entertainment and for holding various events. Only the lower part of the audience seating was restored, while the upper part was not restored due to the absence of any surviving remains.
Archaeological Site: The Nymphaeum (Amman / Nymphaeum)
Historical Periods: Roman Period, Site Coordinates: Long: 35.9360281 Lat: 31.950452 The Nymphaeum is located in the center of the city of Amman, at the intersection of Cardo Street and Decumanus Street, approximately 600 meters west of the Roman Theatre. It was constructed over the Amman Stream on four-barrel vaults. Water reached it through a channel originating from Ras Al-Ain. Its construction dates back to the 2nd century AD.
The building is a semi-octagonal structure with a symmetrical design, and its façade measures 65 meters in length. The lower part of the building was constructed on cylindrical vaults. The second floor consists of three large niches and two rows of small niches. It is believed that marble statues were placed within the niches on the front façade of the building.
The Nymphaeum was built of limestone, with bossed stone used in the construction of the external wall of the building. It is believed that the ground floor contained pools, steam baths, massage rooms, and sanitary facilities. The interior walls of the building, as well as the large and small niches, were covered with a layer of marble. This has been inferred from the presence of circular and square holes in the internal stones of the building.
The Nymphaeum served two main functions: The first was as a commemorative monument where citizens gathered to collect their daily water supplies. The second was as a place for recreation and leisure, especially for young people. What remains of the building today is only part of its rear wall, while houses and storage facilities now occupy what was formerly the front courtyard. The Nymphaeum building is still rich in decorative elements represented by a wide range of carvings with vegetal, animal, and geometric designs, as well as relief sculptures in the forms of terrestrial and marine animals, and human statues surrounded by vegetal ornaments. These decorations are still currently displayed on the wall